Flexible pouch for holding liquids

ABSTRACT

A flexible pouch for holding a fluid includes a front and rear side that together define a compartment, a rim, and a spout. The compartment is for holding a fluid and has a longitudinal axis that extends through the long axis of the compartment and a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The rim is provided around the compartment and is formed by coupling the front and rear sides together. The spout is positioned at a top end of the pouch. The spout has a notch defined in the top end thereof and has a convex shape on a top cut edge thereof. The rim has a bottom cut edge that has a continuously concave shape from one side of the pouch to the other side of the pouch.

FIELD

The technology described herein relates a flexible pouch for use inholding drink components that may be used in a drink-making machine inorder to make a drink, like a cocktail.

BACKGROUND

A variety of pouches are known for holding liquids, such as drinkpouches or alcohol pouches. Pouch types include flat pouches and standuppouches, among other pouches. Flat pouches may be formed by sealingtogether two layers of material around an outer edge of the pouch toform an internal compartment. Flat pouches may also be made from anextruded tube, or by other methods. Flat pouches typically do not standup on their own. They are stored in a container, such as a cardboardbox. Standup pouches include a front and back layer, as well as a bottomlayer. Standup pouches typically will stand up on their own.

SUMMARY

An example flexible pouch is shown and described for holding a liquidcomponent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example pouch according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the example pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the example pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the example pouch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a representation of a cutting pattern for the pouches of FIG.1 during the manufacturing process;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a cutting blade and cutting unit for cuttingthe pouches apart in an assembly line fashion;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cutting unit with a line of pouchesinstalled on the cutting unit; and

FIG. 9 is an end view of a cutting unit with a line of pouches installedon the cutting unit for cutting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technology described herein relates generally to a pouch 10 for usein storing a liquid, such as a concentrate, a non-concentrate, a flavor,an alcoholic beverage, another beverage component, or the like. Thepouch 10 is designed for use in a drink machine (not shown) thatincorporates a cutting blade (not shown) that slices the pouchlongitudinally in order to open the pouch. The pouch 10 couldalternatively be used without a drink machine and could be opened byhand by tearing or cutting through part of the pouch 10, as will bedescribed in greater detail below.

An example pouch 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-5. The pouch 10 is a flexiblepouch that has an inner compartment 12 and an outer, sealed edge thatforms a rim 14. The pouch 10 is formed from a front layer 16 and a backlayer 18. As discussed in greater detail below, the front and backlayers 16, 18 may be formed from two separate sheets, or from a singlesheet of material that is folded over or shaped as a tube. The frontlayer 16 has an inner and an outer surface and the back layer has aninner and an outer surface. A space is provided in the compartment 12between the inner surfaces of the front and back layers. The compartment12 forms a space for accommodating a liquid for storage therein. Theperimeter of the pouch 10 is sealed entirely around the outer perimeter.The sealing process is known in the art and creates a seam or rim 14.The pouch 10 may be hermetically sealed.

The general shape of the pouch 10 is rectangular with a spout 20 at anupper end. The pouch 10 has a longitudinal axis Y-Y that extends alongthe long axis of the pouch 10. The pouch 10 also has a transverse axisX-X that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y. During use, thelongitudinal axis Y-Y of the pouch 10 will be positioned substantiallyvertically. The pouch 10 has a front outer surface 22 and a rear outersurface 24. The shape of the front outer surface 22 matches the shape ofthe rear outer surface 24. The perimeter of the pouch 10 is cutsimultaneously after the pouch 10 is sealed in order to form matchingfront and rear outer surfaces 22, 24.

The compartment 12 has a top end 26, a bottom edge 28, a left and rightside edge 30, 32, which are substantially identical to one another, anda front and rear surface 22, 24, which are also substantially identicalto one another in shape. A narrowed portion 34 is positioned at the topend 26 of the compartment 12, and the bottom edge of the compartment isflat 28. An upper edge 36 of the compartment 12 is substantially aninverted V-shape, with the upper edge 36 formed in two parts that extendfrom the left and right side edges 30, 32 to the narrowed portion 34 oneither side of the pouch 10. The compartment 12 has a length L1 that isgreater than a width W1 thereof, although the length could be less thanthe width, if desired.

The rim 14 of the pouch 10 is formed from the front and back layers 16,18, which are joined together around the outer edge by heat sealing orotherwise. The rim 14 has a top end 38, a bottom edge 40, a left and aright side 42, 44, which are substantially identical to one another, anda front and a back surface 22, 24, which are substantially identical toone another in shape, but may have different graphics applied thereto.The top end 38 of the rim 14 includes a spout 46 into which the narrowedportion 34 of the compartment 12 extends. The spout 46 is approximatelyrectangular in profile, but could have other shapes. The bottom edge 40of the rim 14 has an inwardly curved or concave surface. The spout has atop edge 38 and the top edge 38 of the spout 46 has a curved surface,which may have a convex shape. The bottom concave shape and the topconvex shape may be complementary to one another, such they aresubstantially identical or created by the same cutting tool, such as adie punch. Other shapes could also be used for the top edge 38 of thespout 46. The side edges 42, 44 of the rim 14 are straight, but could beother shapes. The rim 14 also includes an upper edge 50 that is aninverted V-shape that mirrors the upper edge 36 of the compartment 12.The upper edge 50 of the rim 14 mates with the spout 46, which iscentrally located. The side edges 42, 44 of the rim 14 join with theupper edges 50 of the pouch 10 at shoulders 52, which are roundedportions where the side edges 42, 44 meet the upper edges 50 of the rim14.

The spout 46 includes two necked-in cut outs 54, one on each side of thepouch 10, that are positioned between the spout 46 and the adjacentupper edge 50 of the pouch 10. These necked-in cut outs 54 help tocreate a narrowed portion 34 of the spout 46 that can be used fortearing the spout 46 open by hand.

The pouch 10 also includes a notch 56 that extends downwardly andinwardly at the top edge 38 of the spout 46. This notch 56 is used tocreate a thinned portion 58 of the spout 46 to aid in cutting the pouch10 with a blade (not shown) that is positioned inside a drink machine.It is contemplated that a cutting blade will enter the front or rearsurfaces 22, 24 of the pouch 10 and slice downwardly longitudinally Y-Y.The notch 56 is designed to aid in the guiding of a blade through thespout 46 of the pouch 10 in order to release the contents of the pouch10 therefrom. In practice, the top end 38 of the pouch 10 will beinserted into a receptacle in a drink machine such that the top end 38faces downwardly and the bottom edge 40 faces upwardly. A blade willenter from the front or rear surfaces of the pouch 10 and slice thepouch 10 vertically through the front and/or rear surfaces 22, 24 of thepouch 10 and spout 46. The blade is directed towards the notch 56 in thepouch 10 since that area of the pouch 10 has a thinner rim 14. Thus, thenotch 56 helps to promote cutting in a desired location of the pouch 10.

The pouch 10 dimensions are, in part, determined based upon the types ofmanufacturing machines presently readily available. As othermanufacturing machines become available, the pouch 10 size and shape mayvary. In addition, although the compartment 12 mimics the shape of therim 14 of the pouch 10 (with the exception of the bottom edge 40), thecompartment 12 could have a shape that is different from that of the rim14.

The notch 56 on the top end 38 of the pouch 10 can be formed with anangle Al of about 90 degrees. The notch 56 could have other dimensionsthan shown and described. The necked in cut outs 54 that form the tearlocation in the spout 46 could be formed at an angle A2 of about 50 or60 degrees. The cut outs 54 could have different dimensions than shownand described. The cut outs 54 of the spout 46 form a thinner area 58 ofthe rim 14, making it easier to remove the spout 46 from the remainderof the pouch 10 by tearing or cutting. The indented notch 56 on the topedge 38 of the pouch 10 also defines a thinned portion 58 at the top endof the pouch 10 for cutting, as previously discussed.

The compartment 12 has a thickness that can vary based upon how muchcontents are required in each pouch 10. One exemplary thickness is about11 mm. A length L1 of the pouch 10 may be about 139 mm while a width W1may be about 82 mm. The width W2 of the spout 46 may be about 35 mm andthe width of the narrowed portion 34 of the compartment 12 may be about20 mm. The width W3 of the narrowed portion 34 of the spout 46 may beabout 25 mm. The concavity of the top edge 38 and convex surface 40 atthe bottom end of the pouch 10 may be about R70. The angle of the topshoulders 52 of the pouch 10 relative to the transverse axis X-X may bearound 15 degrees. The thickness of the rim 14 at the narrowest point atthe bottom edge 40 may be about 5 mm. The shoulders 52 may have a radiusof about R12.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of the layout used during manufacture of thepouches 10 according to the invention in the production line. As shown,the curved radius of the top end 38 and bottom edge 40 of the pouches 10helps to provide greater efficiency for the manufacture of the pouches10 since more pouches 10 can be made from a sheet of material. Theconcave top edge 38 of the pouch 10 is cut at the same time that theconvex bottom edge 40 of the preceding pouch 10 is cut. Part of thespout 46 of each pouch 10 is formed within the bottom end of eachpreceding pouch 10. Because of the curved shape of the pouch 10 at thetop and bottom ends, the number of pouches 10 made from a sheet ofmaterial is increased, saving cost and time. In particular, therepeating length RL of the cut is less than the length L2 of the actualpouch that is formed. In addition, the curved cut at the bottom edge 40may be created by a curved compound blade 64, an example of which isshown in FIG. 7. The lifetime of a curved blade is longer than that of astraight blade. Thus, the curved blade will last longer and will needless maintenance than a straight blade. It also helps to provide aunique look to the pouch 10.

During production, the distance between the top 38 of each pouch 10 andthe shoulder 52 of each pouch 10 is about 27 mm. The distance betweenthe bottom 28 of the compartment 12 of each pouch 10 and the shoulder 52of the following pouch 10 is about 32 mm. The repeating length RL of thepouch 10 is about 129 mm, which is smaller than the actual length L2 ofthe pouch 10, which is about 139 mm. The reason for this is because thetop of each pouch 10 is recessed into the bottom of the preceding pouch10. Thus, approximately 10 mm of material can be saved per pouch 10 byutilizing the curved bottom edge 40 and curved top edge 38. The cuttingblade may be formed as a shaped (non-straight) blade that serves as acookie cutter for cutting the bottom of one pouch 10 at the same timethat it cuts the top of the next pouch 10. One type of cutting tool thatcan perform this type of cutting is a die punch set 62. An exampleshaped cutting blade 64 is shown in FIG. 7. Alternatively or in additionthereto, multiple cuts can be made to form the various shapes of thepouch 10, if desired.

The pouches 10 are cut apart using standard cutting machines and cuttingunits 62, such as shown in FIGS. 8-9. Types of blades that may be usedinclude steel, high speed steel, die steel, tungsten carbide, Tefloncoated materials, and other metal or plastic blades. The blades may beheat treated and hardened. The blades are long-lasting and providerazor-sharp cutting. Any type of cutting blade may be used in order tomake the cuts necessary to create the pouch 10 shape.

The pouch 10 may be made of any known material for storing beverages.The material may be food grade or non-food grade, depending upon what isstored in the pouch 10. For example, motor oil would not need food gradematerials while orange juice would need food grade materials.

One type of material that is contemplated is a multilayer material thatincludes a barrier. This multilayer material utilizes a combination ofpolyester (PET), foil, and polyethylene (PE). Multilayer materials willtypically include an outer layer that can accept graphics, a barrierlayer, and a sealant layer, among other layers. Types of outer layersthat are contemplated either alone or in combination with othermaterials include polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyester(PET), and nylon. Barrier layers may be foil, metalized poly, ethylenevinyl alcohol (EVOH), or silicon oxide, among other materials andcombinations thereof. Sealant layers may be PE or PP, among other knowsealant layers. The combinations may be formed by lamination, or othermeans. One type of pouch 10 may be a laminated foil. Although not shown,the pouches 10 could alternatively be paper based or a combination ofpaper and plastic. The pouches 10 could be 3 or 4 layer laminates, suchas 3 or 4 film layers like Paper/Poly/Foil/Poly. Alternatively, thepouches 10 could be similar to aseptic brick packages, or aseptic bags,but formed at least in part in the manner shown. The pouches 10 can bemade from a heat-sealable, heat-weldable, or ultrasonic sealing flexiblelaminate, such as aluminum sheet covered with a plastic material, orfrom any other suitable material. It is contemplated that the front andback sheets of material are made of the same material, although it'spossible that they could be made of different types of material. Forexample, if it's preferred that the front surface be transparent whilethe back surface is opaque, the materials may be different. The pouches10 could be formed so that graphics are provided on only one of thesheets of material, on both a front and rear surface of the sheet, withthe front sheet being transparent.

While the rim 14 is shown as being continuous in the figures, it couldbe discontinuous as long as the compartment 12 is sealable. The rim 14can be formed by joining the front and back sheets of material usingheat sealing, heat welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other knownmanufacturing methods. Alternatively, adhesives, crimping or othersuitable methods can be used to bond the sheets together around theperimeter. Also, as discussed above, a single extruded tube can be usedin place of two sheets. When a tube is used, only the ends of the pouch10 need to be sealed since the sides of the tube are already sealed.However, in order to provide a uniform appearance, the entire outer edgeof the pouch 10 may be sealed to form a rim 14.

In an alternative embodiment, a single sheet of material can be usedthat is folded over on itself, with the free ends being bonded togetherto define the sealed compartment 12. In this embodiment, the folded overside may remain unsealed, or the entire outer edge of the pouch 10 maybe sealed to form a rim 14 in order to provide an overall uniformappearance to the pouch 10. The compartment 12 in each of theseembodiments is sealed fluid tight.

The rim 14 that is created by heat sealing or otherwise can be a thinline or combination of lines, a patterned section, or a smooth widerib-like section. The rib 14 may have a thickness that ranges from about5 mm to 12 mm. A preferred range is 6 mm to 10 mm. An example thicknessis about 6 mm.

When the pouch 10 is empty, the compartment 12 is substantially flat.When the compartment 12 is filled with a liquid, the compartment 12bulges outwardly on both the front and rear sides 22, 24. The pouch 10,as shown, is symmetrical. It is envisioned that a pouch 10 could benon-symmetrical and still incorporate the novel features of the presentinvention. Moreover, pouches 10 of different shapes and sizes couldincorporate features taught in the present disclosure.

The pouches 10 may be used to hold a fluid, a liquid, a beverage, pastymedia, fine granular material, or other flowable material, includingthicker materials. The pouches 10 may also be used to hold non-liquidmaterials, if desired. It is contemplated that the pouch 10 will be usedas a beverage container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a flexible pouch 10 forholding a fluid includes a front and a rear side 16, 18, a rim 14, and aspout 46. The front and rear sides 16, 18 together define a compartment12 for holding a fluid. The compartment 12 has a longitudinal axis Y-Ythat extends through the long axis of the compartment 12 and atransverse axis X-X that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y.The rim 14 is positioned around the compartment 12 and is formed bycoupling the front and rear sides 16, 18 together. The spout 46 ispositioned at the top end 38 of the pouch 10. The spout 46 has a notch56 at the top end thereof. The spout 46 has a convex shape at a top cutedge 38 thereof. The rim 14 includes a bottom cut edge 40 that has acontinuously concave shape from one side 42 of the pouch 10 to the otherside 44 of the pouch 10.

The top cut edge 38 of the flexible pouch 10 may have a convex shapethat is substantially the same as the concave shape of the bottom cutedge 40. The notch 56 in the top end 38 of the pouch 10 is V-shaped andextends inwardly into the spout 46 in order to provide a thinned portion58 at the notch 56.

In another embodiment, a flexible pouch 10 system includes an assemblyline for manufacturing the flexible pouch 10, as described above, in aline of pouches 10 in a continuous manner. The system includes a cutterfor cutting the flexible pouches 10 in the line of pouches 10 apart.Each pouch 10 in the line of pouches 10 has substantially the samelength L2 and the line of pouches 10 has a repeating length RL that isless than the length L2 of each pouch 10.

In another embodiment, a flexible pouch 10 for holding a fluid includesa front and a rear side 16, 18, a rim 14, and a spout 46. The front andthe rear sides 16, 18 together define a compartment 12 for holding afluid. The compartment 12 has a longitudinal axis Y-Y that extendsthrough the long axis of the compartment 12 and a transverse axis X-Xthat is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y. The rim 14 isprovided around the compartment 12 and is formed by coupling the frontand rear sides 16, 18 together. The spout 46 is positioned at a top end38 of the pouch 10. The pouch 10 has a notch 56 defined in the top end38 thereof. The spout 46 is openable to release the fluid from the pouch10.

The spout 46 may be aligned with the longitudinal axis Y-Y and the notch56 in the top end may be aligned with the longitudinal axis Y-Y. Thepouch 10 may be configured to be openable by one of tearing or cuttingthe spout 46 either along the longitudinal axis Y-Y or substantiallyparallel to the transverse axis X-X of the compartment 12.

The compartment 12 may have a narrowed portion 34 at a top end thereofin the vicinity of the spout 46, with the narrowed portion 34 beingaligned with the longitudinal axis Y-Y. The compartment 12 may haveupper edges 50 positioned adjacent the spout 46, with the upper edge 50extending downwardly from the spout 46 at an angle relative to thetransverse axis X-X. The rim 14 may also have sides 42, 44 that extenddownwardly from the upper edges 50 parallel to the longitudinal axis Y-Yto define side edges 42, 444 of the pouch 10.

The rim 14 may also include a bottom cut edge 40 positioned at a bottomend of the pouch 10, with the bottom edge 40 being at an end oppositethe top end 38. The bottom cut edge 40 of the rim 14 is curved inwardly.The pouch 10 may be a flat pouch 10. The bottom cut edge 40 of the rim14 may be concave. The bottom edge 28 of the compartment 12 may be flat.

The compartment 12 may have a bottom edge 28, side edges 30, 32, a topedge 26, and a narrowed top portion 34 that is associated with the spout46. The bottom edge 28 of the compartment 12 may be straight andparallel to and spaced from the transverse axis X-X. The side edges 30,32 may be straight and parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axisY-Y. The upper edge 50 may be an inverted V-shape that extends from theside edges 30, 32 to the narrowed top portion 34. The narrowed topportion 34 may be substantially rectangular. The rim 14 may have abottom cut edge 40, two side cut edges 42, 44, an upper cut edge 50, anda spout 46 positioned substantially in the center of the upper cut edge50. The bottom cut edge 40 may be continuously concavely curvedinwardly. The side cut edges 42, 44 may be substantially straight andparallel to the longitudinal axis Y-Y. The upper cut edge 50 may be aninverted V-shape that extends from the side cut edges 42, 44 to thespout 46. The spout 46 may have a convex cut top edge 38 and straightcut side edges. The convex cut top edge 38 of the spout 46 may havesubstantially the same curvature as the concave cut bottom edge 40 ofthe rim 14.

In another embodiment, a flexible pouch 10 for holding a fluid includesa front and a rear surface 22, 24 and a portion of the pouch 10positioned at a top end 38 thereof configured as a spout 46. The frontand rear surfaces 22, 24 are joined around the edges thereof to define arim 14, with a compartment 12 positioned inside the rim 14 for holdingthe fluid. The rim 14 at the bottom end of the pouch 10 has a cut edge40 that is continuously concavely curved from a left side edge 30 of thepouch 10 to a right side edge 32 of the pouch 10.

The spout 46 may have a top cut edge 38 that is convexly curved. Thecurvature of the top edge 38 of the spout 46 may substantially match thecurvature of the continuously concave curved bottom cut edge 40 of thepouch 10. The pouch 10 top cut edge 38 of the spout 46 may include aninwardly extending, substantially centrally positioned notch 56 formedtherein. The pouch 10 may include side edges and a top edge 38. Thespout 46 may have a top edge 38 and side edges that extend upwardly fromthe upper edges 50. The upper edges may extend between the side edges42, 44 and the side edges of the spout 46, with a cut out portion 54positioned on both side edges of the spout 46 in the vicinity where theupper edges 50 mate with the side edges of the spout 46. The cut outportions 54 of the spout 46 may be formed by cutting away material ofthe spout 46 to form indentations in the side edges of the spout 46,with the cut out portion 54 providing a location where the spout 46 canbe torn.

In a first embodiment, a flexible pouch for holding a fluid includes afront and a rear side, a compartment, a rim, a spout, and a bottom cutedge. The front and a rear side together define the compartment forholding a fluid. The compartment has a longitudinal axis that extendsthrough the long axis of the compartment and a transverse axis that isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The rim is provided around thecompartment comprised of the front and rear sides coupled together. Thespout is positioned at a top end of the pouch, with the spout having anotch defined in the top end thereof and having a convex shape on a topcut edge thereof. The bottom cut edge of the rim has a continuouslyconcave shape from one side of the pouch to the other side of the pouch.

The convex shape of the flexible pouch top edge may be substantially thesame as the concave shape of the bottom cut edge. The notch in the topend of the pouch may be V-shaped and may extend inwardly into the spoutin order to provide a thinned rim portion at the notch.

In another embodiment, a flexible pouch system includes an assembly linefor manufacturing the flexible pouch of claim 1 in a line of pouches ina continuous manner, and a cutter. The cutter is for cutting theflexible pouches in the line of pouches apart. Each pouch in the line ofpouches has substantially the same length. The line of pouches has arepeat length that is less than the length of each pouch.

In another embodiment, a flexible pouch for holding a fluid includes afront and a rear side that together define a compartment for holding afluid, a rim, and a spout. The compartment has a longitudinal axis thatextends through the long axis of the compartment and a transverse axisthat is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The rim is providedaround the compartment comprised of the front and rear sides coupledtogether. The spout is positioned at a top end of the pouch, with thepouch having a notch defined in the top end thereof. The spout isopenable to release the fluid from the pouch.

The spout may be aligned with the longitudinal axis. The notch in thetop end may be aligned with the longitudinal axis. The pouch may beconfigured to be openable by one of tearing or cutting the spout eitheralong the longitudinal axis or substantially parallel to the transverseaxis of the compartment. The compartment may have a narrowed portion ata top end thereof in the vicinity of the spout, with the narrowedportion being aligned with the longitudinal axis. The compartment hasupper edges that are positioned adjacent the spout. The upper edges mayextend downwardly from the spout at an angle relative to the transverseaxis. The sides of the pouch may extend downwardly from the upper edgesparallel to the longitudinal axis to define side edges of the pouch.

The pouch may also include a bottom cut edge of the rim positioned at abottom end of the pouch. The bottom end may be at an end opposite thetop end. The bottom cut edge of the rim may be curved inwardly.

The pouch may be a flat pouch. The bottom cut edge of the rim may beconcave. The bottom edge of the compartment may be flat. The compartmenthas a bottom edge, side edges, a top edge and a narrowed top portionthat is associated with the spout. The bottom edge may be straight andparallel to and spaced from the transverse axis. The side edges may bestraight and parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis. The topedge may be an inverted V-shape that extends from the side edges to thenarrowed top portion. The narrowed top portion may be substantiallyrectangular. The rim may have a bottom cut edge, two side cut edges, anupper cut edge, and a spout positioned substantially in the center ofthe upper cut edge, with the bottom cut edge being continuouslyconcavely curved inwardly, the side cut edges being substantiallystraight and parallel to the longitudinal axis, the upper cut edge beingan inverted V-shape that extends from the side cut edges to the spout.The spout may have a convex cut top edge and straight cut side edges.The convex cut top edge of the spout may have substantially the samecurvature as the concave cut bottom edge of the rim.

In another embodiment, a flat pouch for holding a fluid includes a frontand a rear surface joined around the edges thereof to define a rim and aportion of the pouch positioned at a top end configured as a spout. Acompartment is positioned inside the rim for holding a fluid. The rim atthe bottom end of the pouch has a cut edge that is continuouslyconcavely curved from a left side edge of the pouch to a right side edgeof the pouch.

The spout may have a top cut edge that is convexly curved. The curvatureof the spout top cut edge may substantially match the curvature of thecontinuously concave curved bottom cut edge of the pouch. The pouch topcut edge of the spout may include an inwardly extending, substantiallycentrally positioned notch formed therein.

The pouch may include side edges and upper edges. The spout may have atop edge and side edges. The spout may extend upwardly from the upperedges of the pouch. The upper edges may extend between the side edges ofthe pouch and the side edges of the spout, with a necked in cut outportion positioned on both side edges of the spout in the vicinity wherethe upper edges mate with the side edges of the spout. The necked in cutouts may be formed by cutting away material of the spout to formindentations in the side edges of the spout, with the necked in cut outsproviding a location where the spout can be torn.

Other embodiments other than those claimed are also anticipated in viewof the disclosure herein.

The term “substantially,” if used herein, is a term of estimation.

While various features are presented above, it should be understood thatthe features may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Further,it should be understood that variations and modifications may occur tothose skilled in the art to which the claimed examples pertain. Theexamples described herein are exemplary. The disclosure may enable thoseskilled in the art to make and use alternative designs havingalternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements recited inthe claims. The intended scope may thus include other examples that donot differ or that in substantially differ from the literal language ofthe claims. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly defined as setforth in the appended claims.

1. A flexible pouch for holding a fluid comprising: a front and a rearside that together define a compartment for holding a fluid, with thecompartment having a longitudinal axis that extends through the longaxis of the compartment and a transverse axis that is perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis; a rim provided around the compartment comprisedof the front and rear sides coupled together; a spout positioned at atop end of the pouch, with the spout having a notch defined in the topend thereof and having a convex shape on a top cut edge thereof; and abottom cut edge of the rim that has a continuously concave shape fromone side of the pouch to the other side of the pouch.
 2. The flexiblepouch of claim 1, wherein the convex shape of the top cut edge issubstantially the same as the concave shape of the bottom cut edge. 3.The flexible pouch of claim 1, wherein the notch in the top end of thepouch is V-shaped and extends inwardly into the spout in order toprovide a thinned rim portion at the notch.
 4. A flexible pouch systemcomprising: an assembly line for manufacturing the flexible pouch ofclaim 1 in a line of pouches in a continuous manner; and a cutter forcutting the flexible pouches in the line of pouches apart, wherein eachpouch in the line of pouches has substantially the same length and theline of pouches has a repeat length that is less than the length of eachpouch.
 5. A flexible pouch for holding a fluid comprising: a front and arear side that together define a compartment for holding a fluid, withthe compartment having a longitudinal axis that extends through the longaxis of the compartment and a transverse axis that is perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis; a rim provided around the compartment comprisedof the front and rear sides coupled together; and an opening end of thepouch, said opening end openable by cutting or slicing longitudinally,or tearing transversely to the longitudinal axis, through the materialof the pouch in order to release the fluid from the pouch; wherein thepouch is sized to seat in a drink dispensing machine.
 6. The flexiblepouch of claim 5, wherein the opening end of the pouch has a spout thatis aligned with the longitudinal axis and a notch is formed in the topend of the spout and is aligned with the longitudinal axis. 7.(canceled)
 8. The pouch of claim 6, wherein the compartment has anarrowed portion at a top end thereof in the vicinity of the spout, withthe narrowed portion being aligned with the longitudinal axis.
 9. Thepouch of claim 6, wherein the compartment has upper edges positionedadjacent the spout, with the upper edges extending downwardly from thespout at an angle relative to the transverse axis, and sides that extenddownwardly from the upper edges parallel to the longitudinal axis todefine side edges of the pouch.
 10. The pouch of claim 5, furthercomprising a bottom cut edge of the rim positioned at a bottom end ofthe pouch, with the bottom end being at an end opposite the top end,wherein the bottom cut edge of the rim is curved inwardly.
 11. The pouchof claim 10, wherein the pouch is a flat pouch, the bottom cut edge ofthe rim is concave, and the bottom edge of the compartment is flat. 12.The pouch of claim 6, wherein the compartment has a bottom edge, sideedges, a top edge, and a narrowed top portion that is associated withthe spout, with the bottom edge being straight and parallel to andspaced from the transverse axis, the side edges being straight andparallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis, the top edge being aninverted V-shape that extends from the side edges to the narrowed topportion, and the narrowed top portion is substantially rectangular; andthe rim has a bottom cut edge, two side cut edges, an upper cut edge,and a spout positioned substantially in the center of the upper cutedge, with the bottom cut edge being continuously concavely curvedinwardly, the side cut edges being substantially straight and parallelto the longitudinal axis, the upper cut edge being an inverted V-shapethat extends from the side cut edges to the spout, and the spout has aconvex cut top edge and straight cut side edges.
 13. The pouch of claim12, wherein the convex cut top edge of the spout has substantially thesame curvature as the concave cut bottom edge of the rim.
 14. A flat,flexible pouch for holding a fluid comprising: a front and a rearsurface joined around the edges thereof to define a rim, with acompartment positioned inside the rim for holding a fluid; and a portionof the pouch positioned at a top end thereof configured as a spout;wherein the rim at the bottom end of the pouch has a cut edge that iscontinuously concavely curved from a left side edge of the pouch to aright side edge of the pouch.
 15. The pouch of claim 14, wherein thespout has a top cut edge that is convexly curved.
 16. The pouch of claim15, wherein the curvature of the spout top cut edge substantiallymatches the curvature of the continuously concave curved bottom cut edgeof the pouch.
 17. The pouch of claim 14, wherein the pouch top cut edgeof the spout includes an inwardly extending, substantially centrallypositioned notch formed therein.
 18. The pouch of claim 14, wherein thepouch includes side edges and upper edges, the spout has a top edge andside edges, the spout extends upwardly from the upper edges of thepouch, and the upper edges extending between the side edges of the pouchand the side edges of the spout, with a necked in cut out portionpositioned on both side edges of the spout in the vicinity where theupper edges mate with the side edges of the spout.
 19. The pouch ofclaim 18, wherein the necked in cut outs are formed by cutting awaymaterial of the spout to form indentations in the side edges of thespout, with the necked in cut outs providing a location where the spoutcan be torn.
 20. The pouch of claim 5, wherein the pouch is flexiblealong its entirety and the opening end is openable with a cuttingmechanism that is provided in a dispensing unit into which the pouch ispositioned.
 21. A pouch for holding a content of a beverage mix, aspirit, or a combination thereof comprising: a front wall; a rear wall;a top end; a bottom end; and a compartment formed between the front andrear wall for holding the contents of the pouch, with the entirety ofpouch being made of a flexible material that is openable by cutting,tearing, or slicing; wherein the pouch is sized to seat in a drinkdispensing machine that has a cutting mechanism for cutting open abottom end of the pouch such that the contents of the pouchsubstantially completely evacuates therefrom due to the forces ofgravity.